Goodbye 2007

I have not been updating my blog - i know.

I was too lazy to do pretty much anything with all the holidays and what not. Anyways, i have been tagged twice - so here goes!

1) Name of a person who made you laugh last night
Captain Jack Sparrow. We watched Pirates of the Caribbean - At World's End on dvd last night.

2) What were you doing at 0800?
Sleeping. I'm down with fever.

3) What were you doing 30mnts ago?
Eating my lunch - waffles and anchovies fritters.

4) What happened to you in 2006?
A whole lot of stuff. One being me quitting from VS and joining I*G

5) What was the last thing you said out loud?
Adik, Kakak, makan!!

6) How many beverages did you have today?
A few glasses of Ribena

7) What colour is your hairbrush?
Pastel purple

8) What was the last thing you paid for?
School clothes at Ampang Point

9) Where were you last night?
At home with the 3 people i adore the most

10) What colour is your front door?
Dark brown

11) Where do you keep your change?
Anywhere and everywhere

12) What's the weather like today?
A bit cloudy now. It was bright earlier on.

13) What's the best ice-cream flavour?
Peppermint

14) What excites you?
Do you really wanna know? Heheh.

15) Do you want to cut your hair?
Yup

16) Are you over the age of 25?
Not in the year 2000. You do the math.

17) Do you talk a lot?
Depends. Normally, no.

18) Do watch the O.C?
Nope

19) Do you know anyone named Steven?
Yup

20) Do you make up your own words?
I think i have...

21) Are you a jealous person?
Not really

22) Name a friend whose name starts with the letter 'A'
Arif

23) Name a friend whose name starts with the letter 'K'
Khaw Moon Gooi

24) Who's the first person on your received call list?
Deli

25) What does the last text message you received say?
Please review your PDR - from my boss.

26) Do you chew on your straw?
Nope

27) Do you have curly hair?
No

28) Where's the next place you're going to?
Carrefour for groceries

29) Who's the rudest person in your life?
A bimbo in the office with big boobs

30) What was the last thing you ate?
Anchovies fritters. Now i'm coughing like mad.

31) Will you get married in the future?
I am now

32) What's the best movie you've seen in the past 2 weeks?
Have not seen any movie for ages. The last one i saw was Transformers, i think.

34) When was the last time you did the dishes?
After lunch just now

35) Are you currently depressed?
Not at home. At work - oh yes!

36) Did you cry today?
Nope. No reason to.

37) Why did you answer and post this?
Because the person who tagged me might try to hurt me physically.... hahahah.

Moving on to the next one:

1. What is your blogging name?
Seri Langkat.

2. When did you start blogging, the exact date?
Dec 4th, 2003

3. What was your first title?
Blogging Time!

4. Which posting you feel is the best post so far?
All of the posts are special.

5. Who promote/source of inspiration for you to blog?
Daily events and the passion to just write

6. When do you usually post entries?
Depends on my mood

7. Where would you prefer to be when you are blogging?
No preferance

8. Have you met other bloggers?
Some of them

9. How many entries you made in a month?
I try to write at least once a week

10. Would you reveal your face or your family in your blog?
They're already in here

11. Would you promote your friends to blog?
Sometimes. Especially when i have pictures and gossips to share.

12. Would you feel restless/guilty concious/incomplete if you didn't blog for a month?
Maybe. I did that once but couldn't recall if i ever felt restless/guilty/incomplete

13. Define blogging.
Typing away my thoughts


There. All done.

Now here are some pictures of what's been going on these past few weeks.

Cartons of POPYCOCK popcorn. Oh yey! Hahah.

Santa's little helper and her friends.

I made a chocolate cake for Along's birthday

The birthday girl and her mom

Blackout at Tok Mak's

Bad traffic from Malacca to KL

A couple of hours later, we were still stuck in it.

Okay then. This entry pretty much wrap my entries for 2007.

Here's to a better and prosperous new year to everyone. Happy New Year!

Welcome 2008!

Aladdin and The Magic Lamp

Superb.

That’s all I can say about the children musical play called Aladdin and the Magic Lamp.

I’ve heard good reviews about it and decided that it’s a good exposure for the kids to watch a play on stage. We have never been to Istana Budaya (I know, shame on us) so what better way to make our debut than to watch a good play. Please note that I have never, ever watched any plays before. Not even the famous PGL the musical. So bear with me when I keep branding Aladdin as superb, excellent and the sort. I don’t have anything to compare it with, so for all I know Aladdin is truly the best.

Okay. Enough with the babbling.

I bought the tickets online for Sunday 8.30pm show. To ensure that we have good view of the stage, I booked seats at the Grand Circle. It was $30 per seat while the kids are charged half of that. Program books were sold at $5 each.

We were shown to the seats which proved to be really good ones until we started seeing taller heads in front of us. No big deal – small glitch. I now know where the good seats are for future bookings.

The show started on time and we were truly awed by the first scene. The kids were amazing! The songs were catchy and the genie was hilarious!

I couldn’t believe the sultry voices were owned by 10 (Aladdin) and 9 (Princess Jasmine) year olds! Goodness gracious. They sounded better than some of the singers out there.

The sets were nicely done and transitions between scenes were done flawlessly that I wondered if the sets moved on their own until I saw a leg behind the castle. Heheh.

Kakak and adik really enjoyed the show and laughed their hearts out on the funny bits. At one time, kakak was laughing so hard that a man standing behind us actually laughed at and with her! He asked kakak if she find the scene funny where kakak answered with giggles. Little did I realize that the man was actually the music director of the play – Pak Ngah. I didn’t know he’s a Datuk until I read about him in the program book. Awesome!

The show ended at 10.30pm and kakak asked if she could ask for the casts’ autograph. We queued for 20 minutes and kakak managed a chat with Erma Fatima.

It was one heck of a show – a standing ovation from the crowd. Would I watch it again? Most definitely.

The Tales of Retail Therapy & Beedle the Bard

I was in serious mood to spend some dosh since yesterday but couldn't really get to do so because of the rain and a million other reasons.

Deli's at work today and the kids are at home - more reason to not go out and shop. Their antics would definitely deter my enthusiasm. Retail therapy requires full concentration, okay!

So I went to Amazon.com - thank God for online shopping!! I am forever grateful to those who invented this online shopping thingy-majingy.

Browsed for hours looking for cheap yet fabulous handbags only to find that the 2 that I really fancied could not be shipped to Malaysia. Jeez. So much for the big talk about online shopping.

So I browsed for books instead only to find about The Tales of Beedle the Bard.

Apparently Amazon.com bought 1 of the 7 available copies of JK Rowling's handwritten book. Not only that - they paid a hefty 1 million pounds for it too!

The book contains 5 fairy tales, scribbled and illustrated by the author herself. It's only 157 pages - unlike her series of Harry Potter. I reckon it must have cost her a lot of time to write the same story 7 times and to draw the same pictures. Kudos to her for coming up with such idea. It was mentioned that she's donating the proceeds to The Children Voice Campaign - a charity she co-founded to help improve the lives of institutionalized children across Europe.

Here's a sneak peak.

So - back to me. I still have not spent a penny.

How is that possible?

Crappy Me, Crappy Day

I don’t know what’s wrong with me today. I’m all tensed and crabby all day.

I didn’t speak to both adik and kakak since last night because they’ve been throwing tantrum almost everyday since they got back from BP. They refused to get ready for school in the morning and started to cry when I rolled up my sleeves and nagged. I will then be very pissed because by the time they’re all hauled up in the car, I was pretty much late for work.

So that’s why I acted the way I did. I just thought that they should feel what it’s like to be in my shoes.

This morning, they were up early. Both were making themselves sandwiches for breakfast. I did the usual stuff – checking the locks, switching off the lights and getting the keys before leaving the house. Still not talking to them. Kakak was done with her sandwich while adik was still scooping Nutella from the jar. By the time I opened the front door, he was still not done with his bread, panicked and resorted to crouching behind the sofa with streaming tears. Kakak helped him with his sandwich. He was still crying. In fact he cried all the way to school.

I know I was mean to him. I should have helped him but like I said, I was not in the mood to be nice.

Things were bad in the office as well.

I have completed a document for my boss one day in advance (a thick one, if I might add), thinking that I might be able to use the extra day to work on the cosmetics and stuff. At 12.22pm, he emailed me saying that it was not good enough. People would not want to read it because it’s filled with details.

I was supposed to produce a user guide - wouldn’t it require details on the how-to’s?? Darn.

Then again, it was not so much of the argument but it’s how it was conveyed. It’s as if my effort was mocked. Probably he wanted to mess with me because of the transfer. We never talk about it since the CFO decided to KIV the case.

By the way, the Dutchman and my boss are still not speaking to each other. So much for being professionals. They are behaving like a bunch of 2 years old. My boss would ask me about the Dutchman and vice versa. I am stuck in between, trying my best not to side anyone. It’s just stupid and annoying.

There’s no news on the transfer and I couldn’t care less. If things get too complicated, I will think of something. Meanwhile, I will do what is expected of me and proceed with the procedures to transfer. My deliverables should not be affected by any of these.

Anyways, after receiving the email from my boss, I desperately needed a cup of toffee nut latte. I planned to have a quick lunch alone and proceed to Starbucks for it. I guess today is really not my day because it started to rain heavily while I was half way through my lunch.

So here I am. Feeling bad about being mean to my kids this morning, having my work being rejected and not getting my cup of coffee.

Plus, someone left a trail of urine on the toilet seat. Urgh! Gross!

If all those doesn’t earn me the right to feel the way I do, I don’t know what else does.

As I Mature

Looks like I'm gonna be pretty busy till end of the year.

I'm still doing work for my boss and have started 2 projects under the so-called new department. Apart from that, I have 2 projects closing in Jan '08. Talk about having nothing to do towards year end. Chis..

I can't wait for BDM project to be closed. My boss promised me 5 precious off days. Yumm!

Anyways, I am trying my very best to squeeze in some time for facebook and blogging. Both are very well-abandoned. Tak senonoh betul.

Anyways, I have a paper due today so I'm just gonna post something that I received in email.

As I Mature

I’ve learned that you cannot make someone love you.
All you can do is stalk them and hope they panic and give in.

I’ve learned that no matter how much I care,
Some people are just assholes.

I’ve learned that it takes years to build up trust
And it only takes suspicion – not proof, to destroy it.

I’ve learned that you can get by on charm for 15 minutes.
After that, you’d better have a big willy or huge boobs.

I’ve learned that you shouldn’t compare yourself to others.
They are more screwed up than you think.

I’ve learned that you can keep vomiting
long after you think you’re finished.

I’ve learned that we are responsible for what we do.
Unless we are celebrities.

I’ve learned that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first,
Passion fades and there had better be a lot of money to take its place.

I’ve learned that 99% of the time when something is not working in your house,
One of your kids did it.

I’ve learned that people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon,
And the less important ones just never go away.

Shame on You, Thief!

I am really pissed.

Earlier this morning I bought 3 magazines from the friendly macha at the foyer. I bought Malaysian Women’s Weekly, Anjung Seri and URTV featuring Zac Efron and that Gabriella girl from High School Musical.

When I got in the office, I sent out an email to my colleagues and told them that I have been missing a couple of magazines from my desk. I don’t really mind if they borrowed it. I just need to know who so I can get them back. I have not finished reading some of them.

Today’s a busy day for me with meetings, department lunch and stuff. I was away from my desk for a great deal of hours.

I was doing a little bit of spring cleaning a couple of minutes ago when I noticed that my URTV was gone.

Gone. Kapish.

I looked high and low for it and asked around but nobody has seen it. It’s a rather large magazine so I couldn’t misplace it. Besides, I’ve looked in every drawer, shelf and even under my desk.

It’s gone.

I know it’s cheap. It’s only $3.50 but it’s MINE and I have not read it.
I know I’m being dramatic but hey, I have a drama queen for a friend!

The strange thing is that I still have the rest of my other magazines – Malaysian Women’s Weekly, Anjung Seri and Australian Women’s Weekly.

It’s always URTV. Why?

Ironic.

Darn.

Let's Take Our Time

A lot had happened this week.

That would mean a combo of feelings for me. Oh well. Life must go on.

Here are some pictures. Not in any particular order.

Deli receiving KFC vouchers from his boss.

With Michel Tilmant - the big boss from Amsterdam.
Adik and Syazlin - Syam's open house
Kakak & Syam's girls - Syam's open house
Lunch with TF at Bangkok Expresso. My favorite Thai iced tea.

Praying for A Little Ray of Light

Hmm.

Today my fate will be decided.

The final say will come from the CFO and VP of SP.

Please pray hard that I will be able to transfer to ROPS.

The Dutchman is in Korea till next week.

Syam NB will also transfer to PMO-ROPS.

I just hope there won't be any hurdles for me.

Meanwhile, let me just enjoy my cuppa.

Update as at 3.30pm:

My boss said OKAY but the CFO said KIV the case.

In summary, I am still gonna be here, doing what I'm doing for 2 different divisions.

The transfer can only happen if and ONLY IF they're able to find my replacement. Otherwise, they want to swap me with a staff from ROPS - which will not happen because ROPS has a small pool of resource.

Plus, my boss said he needs to agree on the swap candidate. He has a 'NO' list to begin with.

Sigh.

To my ears, it simply meant crap. It's not gonna happen.

I hate this. I hate the fact that my fate is being determined by such insignificant and petty requirement.

This Ride Has Taken It's Toll On Me

I’m in pain. In a hell lot of pain.

I’ve got blisters from wearing new shoes and muscle (what’s left of it) pain from too much walking and climbing stairs. TF said I should bite the shoes before they ‘bite’ me. I asked her to bite my shoes for me. She politely declined.

This never happen during retail therapy. New shoes or not. Why do you think is that?

So. That gives me the right to be cranky.

First thing first, the government need to do something about parking space and proposal to have more shopping malls.

The parking area behind the office was closed since Tuesday last week. We paid a hefty $8.50 a day to park there. They’re building a shopping mall on that particular spot. I just don’t understand why they need another mall when KLCC is just 10 minutes walk away and Pavillion is a mere 5 minutes walk from here. Jeez.

Anyway, now that it’s closed, there’s only one viable choice – the parking lot next to the Weld. They charged $8.50 a day as well but since it became the only parking lot available around here, they started to increase the price. From a hefty $8.50 a day to $10 a day on Tuesday last week, to a crazy $15 a day since Wednesday!

That’s just insane!

Adik needed chauffeuring to school so I had no choice but to succumb to the horrendous price tag. I didn’t particularly feel comfortable because I had to leave my car keys with the parking attendant. The parking lot was too full and patrons had to double- even triple-park. We had to leave our keys so that the cars can be easily moved around the lot.

I kept imagining that the parking attendant will round his gang and happily take our cars away! Erkkk!!!

I parked next to HLB after that. It was a long walk to the office but that’s the only place I could think of and they charged only $8 per day. Plus, I don’t have to leave my precious keys behind. Much better.

Okay then.

So school holidays are here. I don’t have to chauffeur the kids to school anymore and the best thing to do now is take the trains to work. Yes – trains. Putra LRT and monorail. It’s a good few minutes walk from the parking lot to the station. No sweat. I’ve done it before. It was a 15 minutes ride before I had to change train. Another good 5 to 7 minutes walk to the monorail station.

Okay. I could feel the beads of sweat by then. It was a short ride to the final station. A couple more minutes of walking to the office followed suit. By then, I was cursing silently because I could feel the new shoes biting through my flesh. Not to mention that I could not smell the perfume anymore!

So here I am. Still minding the aches. It’s a total of half an hour journey. No traffic, no hassle to find a parking spot. Costs almost as much as paying for parking but in half the time.

Oh well. You can’t have it all. Maybe I won’t complaint as much when I’m used to this. Maybe I’ll brand muscular legs in a month or two. Berangan. Hahah.


By the way, parking is not the only expensive thing around here. The curry puff is now 70 cents a piece! Goodness gracious!


Lucky that I*G still provides free drinks to its employees.

Freshly poured teh tarik - all bubbly and nice.

Let me just enjoy my tea.

Blind Sight

Oh dear!

A month ago, he said 'OKAY'. It was all set. I will transfer to the Dutchman's department by Jan 2008.

This morning, he said - 'NO, I'M NOT LETTING YOU GO'.

He said a whole lot of other stuff but I just couldn't get past the 'NO'. Whatever said after that were just noises to my ears.

I asked if I can think about it and he said 'NO'.

I can't help but think that last week's heated argument (between the Dutchman and him) had something to do with this.

I have to think and act fast. Time is not on my side.

Not this time.

This Little Girl of Mine

I noticed that she was really concentrating. Her eyes welled and tears trickled quietly down her cheeks.

I was glowing with pride but quickly dismiss the thought of branding a smile. She might misunderstand me.

She didn't realize that I was watching her and continued to be carried away.

I was indeed impressed. How could a 7 year old understands all that? I don't think I could have done the same.

Then she saw me looking at her. She stood up, sat next to me, put her arms around me. Mine on hers. Tears streaming down her cheeks. She said she's sad.

I told her it's okay. It's okay to feel sad or cry. It will soon be over.

True enough, it ended 5 minutes later. She took her be-bear and wiped off her tears.

My daughter cried watching The Joy Luck Club. How can I not be impressed?

Did you cry wtaching the movie?

A Little Bit of This and That

I think consuming mutton makes your brain work better. I had lamb stew and ranked no 9 in FB Noggin.

I watched Big Love on Monday nights and have great respect for those practicing polygamy. Muslim or not. If it’s me, I’d die of jealousy.

The makcik selling lunch finally cooked paru (what is it called in English?) goreng sambal. Yesterday, FD and I asked if she could include the dish for lunch. It’s been a while since we last had her paru goreng sambal. Today, we finally get to eat it. She even packed some for me – just in case it’s finished before I went to her stall for lunch. How sweet.

Last week I learn that a worm farmer supplied his worms to cosmetic companies. Regardless of the purpose – ewww!!!!

When I’m bored, I nap. I am very bored right now.

Have a good weekend peeps!

Raya Picts

Here are some raya picts.

Am busy (with Facebook - hahaha) at the moment, so i guess picts will have to suffice for now.

Daddy and the kids

Mummy and the kids

Deli's whole family

Grandparents and grandkids
Deli's youngest brother giving out duit raya for the first time

Deli's elder brother came back from Cairo to celebrate raya

On the way back to Johor

Adik consoling the car-sick Baby Cat

All better and ready to meet his new cousin, Atam (Chu Boy's cat)

Hani, kakak, Natasya & adik

Dads - Tok Ayah, Deli and Ayah Izad

The girls parading their raya dresses

Kids and Ayah Izad at Tok Din's house

Kakak first experience with sup tulang. Eh, where's the soup?

Celebrating Tok Mak's birthday

Saw a stall branding Ayah Izad's sauces (Azad Sauce)

Stopped at Seremban rest area for dinner on our way back to KL

I had mee bandung - yum!

KLCC from afar

Not everyone is blessed with a merry raya. Some had to work. Pict taken at Jalan Ampang.

Of Raya and Stuff

Raya this year was not that different from 2006.

Oh before I forget, Selamat Hari Raya to all. Maaf zahir dan batin if I have ever offended you in any way.

Now where were we?

Oh yes. We had lots to eat, non-stop guests attended the open house and of course, loads of scrumptious food to feast on. I guess the only difference was the way people behaved. I will not divulge further. It might cause a stir or worse – chaos.

Anyways, this year was Deli’s turn to celebrate first day of raya with his parents. I was still working on Friday so we went back to Shah Alam on the eve of raya. There were loads to be done for the open house. Plus the excitement of Soyuz getting attached to the ISS. I slept while waiting for the hatch to open. Never trust the host of Angkasa1 channel when he said ‘in a few minutes’ because it literally meant hours!

Our little family was dressed in purple this year. Kakak looked all grown up in her first kebaya. Adik looked dashing in his baju melayu and samping. You only get to see him dress up once a year, so yes – he looked extremely sharp in it.

Went back to our pad on the same day. I packed for the next destination and dozed off soon after.

Started the journey to Tok Mak’s and spent almost 5 hours on the road. Don’t even mention about the pain from sitting too long – especially the royal ass. Adeh..

I lost count of houses and relatives we visited while the kids had fun counting their duit raya.

We visited atok’s kubur on 3rd day of raya. I wanted so badly to visit my cousin’s kubur and have never stop thinking about her since the day she left us all. Sadly, we couldn’t find it because hers was not marked properly. Maybe one of these days, I’ll have someone to do a proper marking for her resting place. It’s the least I can do for her family. Al-fatihah to both atok and kak Tina.

We headed back to KL on Wednesday. Deli’s dad was admitted to SMC the day before. Alhmadulillah the journey back to KL was smooth. Stopped by Seremban rest area for dinner coz Ayer Keroh rest area were flooded with people. Plus we didn’t want to keep the cats in the car for too long.

Life after raya break will be busier than usual.

1. Kakak is sitting for her final exams starting from 22/10.
2. Adik’s class trip on 27/10
3. Kakak has replacement class on 03/11
4. Adik’s orientation for standard 1 on 03/11
5. Adik’s sports carnival on 11/11

I have not even factored in invitation to open houses in the weekends. I’ve turned down 1 invitation so far. At the rate that we’re going, looks like we’re gonna have to turn down a couple more.

How was your raya?

Of Parang and Soket

I checked Kakak’s homework last night and couldn’t help laughing when I read her sentences.

This is what happen if you let a 7 year old build sentences on their own.

Ini parang. Ayah saya menggunakan parang untuk korek durian.

Ini soket. Soket ini berbahaya kerana ada elektrik dan karen.

This and That about Eid and Ramadhan

Ten more days before we bid farewell to Ramadhan.

There goes the month where you could really feel safe (read: no hantu) and where you could look deep within and find out who you really are. I always have this perception that people becomes bad/rotten/crazy/intolerable/etc because of the bisikan syaitan and that without it, they are good people like the rest of us.

Boy oh boy. Apparently I thought wrong.

Anyways, got some of the raya cookies today. Judging by the look, they might not live to see raya!

I ordered some sparklers as well. What is raya without these babes, right?

Some colleagues donated their raya cards and money packets to me because apparently, my department was not allocated any. Don’t know why. This is the second time in a row. Jeez.

Oh, before I forgot, the basketball coach tagged me (again!). So here goes.

Name 5 favorite food that you feel like having now
1. Ayam percik with the white gravy
2. Fresh & juicy lobster meat
3. Air katira… *drool*
4. Briyani from Syed’s restaurant
5. Ikea’s scrumptious curry puffs

Name 5 food you would like to have for breakfast if you could *assuming this is morning breakfast and not iftar*
1. Nasi lemak with rendang ayam. No anchovies, please.
2. Sambal sotong *the chewy one a.k.a sotong plastik*
3. Warm waffles or pancakes with honey
4. Bagel with sour cream
5. Honey nut cheerios… *it’s so darn expensive here*

Name 5 food you would most likely to buy for berbuka today.
1. Vege popia.. *hopefully they’re extra crunchy today*
2. Lamb briani
3. McDonalds chocolate shake
4. Watermelon juice
5. Ayam percik


Okay then. It’s quitting time.

Grey strands from a girl's point of view

A touching thing happened a couple of weeks back.

I saw tears running down her rosy cheeks. Her head on her daddy’s lap. Daddy was talking softly, as if consoling her. I approached the two and provoked clarification with my eyes.

Daddy: She saw the bunch of grey strands on my head.
Me: And?
Daddy: She was sad. She said I’m getting older and I will soon die. She doesn’t want me to die.

I saw more tears streaming down her cheeks. For a moment, I though I felt hot streams coming my way too.